Multiple address circuit



AUS 20, 1968 R. l.. THOMAS MULTIPLE ADDRESS CIRCUIT 19 Sheets-Sheet l BVR. L. THOMAS TTRNEV Filed Aug. 4, 1964 Aug. 20, 1968 R. l.. THOMAS MULTIPLE ADDRESS CIRCUIT 19 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4. 1954 Aug. 20, 1968 R. 1 .THoMAs MULTIPLE ADDRESS CIRCUIT 19 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 4, 1964 R. L. THOMAS MULTIPLE ADDRESS CIRCUIT Aug. 20, 1968 19 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 4, 1964 R. x.. THoMAs 3,398,234

MULTIPLE ADDRESS CIRCUIT 19 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 20, 1968 Filed Aug. v4, 1964 Aug. 20, 1968 R. L. THOMAS MULTIPLE ADDRESS CIRCUIT 19 Sheets-Sheet e Filed Aug. 4, 1964 Aug. 20, 1968 R. L.. THOMAS 3,398,234

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MULTIPLE ADDRESS CIRCUIT Filed Aug. 4, 1964 19 Sheets-Sheei 19 United States Patent O 3,398,234 MULTIPLE ADDRESS CIRCUIT Robert L. Thomas, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to American Telephone and Telegraph Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 387,339 7 Claims. (Cl. 178-`3) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A multiple address circuit providing a method of distributing a data message to a plurality of addressees. The circuit includes a two way trunk which terminates in a modified PBX. When selectively called by a data subscriber via the PBX, the trunk circuit returns dial tone and connects a 'register which can store up to six addresses. After the last digit is dialed, a magnetic tape recorder is cut through and the data message is recorded thereon. When the originating subscriber thereafter hangs up, the multiple address circuit proceeds to originate a call through the PBX to the rst addressee and transmit the message when the first addressee answers. When the message delivery is concluded the addressee station is disconnected and the multi-address circuit thereupon originates calls to each of the subsequent addressee stations in the same manner.

This invention relates to a multiple address circuit and, more particularly, to a system for distributing a data message to a plurality of stations.

A broad object of this invention is to provide an improved multiple address circuit.

Automatic switching systems for processing data messages are generally classified as either message switching systems or line switching systems. In message switching, the data message includes routing codes designating the destination station or stations. At the switching office, the data message is stored and the routing codes are examined to provide the switching information for seizing the appropriate outlet or outlets. The stored message is then retransmitted to the seized outlets and thus to the destination stations. In line switching, the connection to the destination station is completed before the data inessage is transmitted by the originating station. This conforms with conventional telephone switching practices wherein the calling subscriber rst sends the digits of the called subscriber and proceeds to communicate only after the called subscriber answers the call.

In Patent 3,113,176, which issued to T. L. Doktor et al. on Dec. 3,1963, there is disclosed a subscriber data set arranged to communicate via a line switching system. Specifically, the subscriber set is connected to the telephone switching network and includes means for sending digits to effect a connection by way of a central telephone oice. When the connection is established, the called subscriber returns an answering signal enabling the originating subscriber to initiate data transmission over the telephone line facilities. The subscriber set may also be connected to a line switching system known as a PBX (private branch exchange), an arrangement disf closed, for example, in Patent 2,949,506, which issued to H. H. Abbott et al. on Aug. 16, 1690, and in the copending application of R. M. Green et al., Serial No. 387,331, filed concurrently herewith, which issued as Patent 3,344,- 235, on Sept. 26, 1967, the latter application disclosing a PBX subscriber line extending to a data set.

In message switching systems, one of the features that may be provided is a multiple address circuit for distributing a data message to a plurality of stations. F

Since the data message stored at the switching oice includes the routing codes, the message can be broadcast Patented Aug. 20, 1968 rice to the outlets that are available while retaining in storage the routing codes of any unavailable stations. Thus, the multiple address circuit is enabled to reprocess the message as the stations become available. Line switching systems, however, establish connections to called subscribers prior to the initiation of the communication from the calling subscriber. The switching information is therefore not concurrently stored with the data message. In addition, facilities for repeated transmission of a message to multiple outlets are not provided.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a multiple address circuit suitable for use with a line switching system. v

Another object of this invention is to sequentially call subscriber stations in accordance with line switching information.

In accordance with the specic embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the multiple address circuit is arranged to receive a data message from an originating station by way of a line switching network such as a PBX and distribute the message to a plurality of PBX stations in accordance with address digits transmitted by the originating station prior to the transmission of the data message.

It is a feature of this invention to receive a data message preceded by line switching information designating a plurality of addressee stations and concurrently store the data message and register line switching information.

It is another feature of this invention to send the registered digits of one addressee station and then the stored data message when the called subscriber answers the call. When the data message transmission is terminated, the registered digits of the next addressee station are transmitted, whereby the message is distributed to a plurality of stations.

It is a further feature to insert routing codes in the data message in accordance with the registered address digits to provide the routing information to the called subscriber.

The foregoing and other objects and features `of this invention will be fully understood from the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGS. 1 through 18, when arranged as shown in FIG. 19, show the details of circuits and equipment which cooperate to form a multiple address circuit in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 20 illustrates, in block form, the various equipment and circuits of the multiple address circuit and the manner in which they cooperate with a PBX.

In the several figures of the drawing, the relay contacts are shown detached from the relay winding. Contacts which are closed when the associated relay is deenergized, known as break contacts are represented by a single short line perpendicular to the conductor line while contacts which are closed when the relay is energized, known as make contacts, are represented by two short cross lines diagonally intersecting the conductor line. Eaih relay core is identified by a conventional core designation preceded -by a number corresponding to the figure in the drawing wherein the core appears. Each set of relay contacts is identified by the relay core designation together with an individual contact number.

General description Referring now to FIG. 20, a multiple address circuit is generally indicated by block 2001. Extending from multiple address circuit 2G01 and, more specifically, from trunk circuit 24107 are outgoing channel 2005 and incoming channel 2003, which channels extend to outgoing line circuit 2006 and incoming line circuit 2004 in PBX 

